What do you envision a typical CM day would consist of for a homeschooling family with 2 boys (ages 5 1/2 and 3)? I am wanting to follow the Charlotte Mason style...but need some guidance. Right now I have several curriculums that I have been using...primarily I have been using Math U See, and Explode the Code as well as BOB Books, and Handwriting without Tears. I also have ( but have not taken the time to begin...) Story of Our World, and Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space. I usually can get a math lesson and/or reading lesson done. But my ds gets restless after one lesson(I'm talking about the 5 1/2 year old), so I send him on to play outside or build with blocks etc. He is progressing well on math and reading, but I haven't hit on the science or social studies curriculum although he does read alot of science type books with my dh at night (Bugs, Insects, Reptiles etc.) What do you see a typical day being like using the resources I have and the ages of my kids...and following CM.
Forgot to add that I am NEW to CM. I haven't read the books, but have done online research. I don't feel completely confident in my knowledge.
I don't use CM but it sounds to me that you could give him hands on activities for science and let it go with that. Use the curriculum next year or sell it. Look for kits for little ones - we did things like glow in the dark slime and silly putty - riase butterflies and ants, hatch some eggs in an incubator -that kind of stuff. Try this place for ideas http://www.hometrainingtools.com/ca...-level/cat_elementary-science-for-prek-2.html
With kids those ages I would say a typical day should include for the 5 year old a short math lesson no more than 15 mins (unless he is like my dd5 and begs to do more), then send him out to run around and play for 15 mins, then back inside for a reading lesson again no more than 15 mins, more play time and then a short lesson on handwriting. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots (did I say lots?) and lots of time outside! Plant a small garden. We did an herb garden. Get a butterfly kit or frog kit, raise them and release them into your yard. Build bird feeders and fairy houses. Collect sticks and rocks. Watch the squirrels and birds. My dd5 loves to collect acorns, put them under all the trees in our yard and watch from the window as the squirrels get them and bury them. That is basically what I do with my dd5 - math u see, hooked on phonics, handwriting and tons of nature. And we dont even do all that every day. Maybe 3 times per week. For the 3 year old I would stay away from curriculum at this point. Get him outside in nature too and include him in all nature activities and play that you do with the 5 year old. Now when your ds turns 6 your SOTW and science will come in handy. But before that CM does not recommend it. She strongly, very strongly urges lots of play time in nature.
Thanks MonkeyMamma - I was hoping you would respond. It sounds like - from your description - that I am doing exactly CM! Hurrah! I was worried because I hadn't used my science and history curriculum. We do spend the majority of our day outside and since we live in the boonies - our boys get lots of nature stuff. Of course, my 3 year old has no curriculum -- every once in a while he wants to do work so I let him to a short workbook type glue, cut and paste. Any other tips would be great!
Yes you are doing CM!!! Woo Hoo!! Don't worry about using that curriculum right now. Just sit it on the shelf for now and it will be there when you need it. And you will need it. Just not now. Take a look at this link. This is what I am going to do for 1st grade with Grace begining in February. It is just year 1 at ambleside. We will be using MUS, HOP, and French will be our language of choice. http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml
Here's a thought: Charlotte Mason said formal instruction shouldn't begin until age 6. Now, my almost 6yo didn't read her books, so he didn't know he wasn't supposed to start LOL We've just finished up our "kindergarten" year. It looked like LOTS of reading aloud, some hands on math, MORE reading aloud, an art project here and there, going to the library for story time (someone else READING aloud), some work to develop those fine motor skills, lots of gardening, MORE READING ALOUD, doing puzzles, and, finally (can you guess?) MORE READING ALOUD. What I wanted to cover for science, and they didn't discover in the garden or floating things in the sink (thank you very much), I read to them. Our formal schooling in the morning, went something like this: Calendar Read aloud (maybe science) Read aloud - by my son, usually a bit of phonics, BOB book, Treadwell primer Read aloud (me again), maybe some history or a something biographical hands-on math - questions with manipulatives, a board game, dominoes Read aloud - story in French or Spanish cutting shapes Read aloud - literature I tried to stick to 10 minutes per activity and never went past 15. Anything that didn't get mixed in the morning I offered throughout the day for play activities. Quite a bit of the things my children see as toys or play time are things I have planned in my mind as learning experiences.
